~~~
The flashing traffic light switched from green to red, and Ning Jiuwei hit the brakes, coming to a smooth stop just before the line.
Traffic clogged the main artery, pedestrians swarming the crosswalks. The sprawling ten lanes stretched wide, dragging out the signal cycles, the red-light countdown ticking down from ninety-five seconds.
Su Jinglan clutched her handbag, her sidelong gaze slipping through Ning Jiuwei’s open collar to trace the elegant line of her collarbone. A smile tugged at her lips unbidden as she stared, entranced.
The ring dangling from that necklace would one day grace Ning Jiuwei’s ring finger.
Her stare burned too hot. Ning Jiuwei’s hands tightened instinctively on the wheel.
Su Jinglan stayed leaned in close, her seatbelt doing nothing to haul her back against the seat. The light was still counting down—who knew how long she’d have to endure that gaze? Ning Jiuwei shot her a sidelong glance, silently pleading for her to sit back.
Su Jinglan got the message loud and clear: Ning Jiuwei wanted her buckled in properly. Fat chance. She flicked a look at the timer, then let her hand drift from the armrest to Ning Jiuwei’s waist, snagging the hem of her shirt.
The unexpected touch unleashed a flood of pent-up tension in Ning Jiuwei. Her body shivered, fingertips quivering on the wheel.
She clamped down hard, knuckles whitening, and forced the words through gritted teeth. “President Su, you insisted on tagging along. I didn’t drag you here.”
Follow or be led—it didn’t matter. They were leaving the company together, bound for the same destination.
Su Jinglan’s finger hooked lightly, grazing the sensitive curve of Ning Jiuwei’s waist in a feather-touch that sent another visible tremor through her.
“I remember Designer Ning inviting me to come along.” Su Jinglan recalled every syllable. Ning Jiuwei had cited an outing to skip the afternoon meeting—if Su Jinglan doubted it, she could join and see for herself.
No denying it; those were her words. Ning Jiuwei went quiet. The instant the countdown hit zero, she punched the gas.
The black sedan sliced through the ceaseless flow, Ning Jiuwei wrestling her emotions under control. She locked her focus on the treacherous road, guiding the car with rock-steady precision.
Her forward gaze betrayed no flicker of disturbance. Sticking to the mental map, she pulled into the Jin Ying Building.
Plenty of spots open on the ground level. She claimed the nearest empty one and eyed the steady stream of people at the grand entrance. “Does President Su know where we are?”
Gilded letters blazed across the facade—impossible to miss. Even without them, Su Jinglan knew the place on sight.
“You’re here for Shen Lanyan?” Su Jinglan unclipped her belt, hand on the door.
“Out we go.” Ning Jiuwei sidestepped the question, freeing her own belt and snatching her phone from the console.
Blazing sun scorched the pavement; the air outside hummed with heat. Ning Jiuwei shut the door, her steady gaze lifting over the roof to meet Su Jinglan’s.
Su Jinglan met it squarely.
They locked eyes across the car, warmth building under the relentless sun. Ning Jiuwei broke first, turning to lead the way.
The parking lot lay a healthy hike from the doors. Su Jinglan’s long legs closed the gap fast, falling into step beside her.
The Jin Ying Building buzzed with entertainment industry pros. Its soaring first-floor lobby exuded grandeur. Last visit, the massive digital billboard on the wall had looped Shen Lanyan’s perfume spot.
Today, a fresh ad—but still starring Shen Lanyan.
Ning Jiuwei spared it a passing glance and approached the front desk. “Name’s Ning. I have an appointment with Miss Shen.”
Fans loved masquerading as staff or guests. Security ringed the area, eyes boring into Ning Jiuwei, primed to bounce her.
The receptionist flashed a professional smile, no alarms raised. “Miss Ning, you were here before, seeing Miss Shen. This way, please—like last time, VIP elevator up.”
She guided them to the VIP elevator, then retreated to her station once they were aboard.
“When did Designer Ning set this up with Miss Shen?” Every rendezvous meant conversation—and questions.
Ning Jiuwei replied without missing a beat. “This morning, on my way out.”
The car dinged at the 20th floor. Shen Lanyan’s lounge was on the 15th; the indoor photography studio up here was shooting promo posters for her new drama.
“Designer Ning.” Ah Xiao, tipped off by message, emerged from the studio and spotted her from afar, calling out.
Up close, she clocked the surprise: no little assistant Tan Yushu at Ning Jiuwei’s side. President Su instead.
“Where’s Lanyan?” Su Jinglan asked in the tone of a boss inquiring about her subordinate’s progress. Her cool demeanor was downright intimidating.
“She’s inside shooting promotional posters. It’s almost done.” Ah Xiao’s face served as the best possible pass, ushering Ning Jiuwei and Su Jinglan into the photography studio.
The studio buzzed with staff members clustered around the actors, all on standby. Ning Jiuwei paused at the door. “You two go ahead. I need to take a call.”
With that, she clutched her phone and turned back, leaving the studio behind.
After countless poses and angles for the posters, the director was finally satisfied. Shen Lanyan stepped down from the spotlight platform, her exquisite makeup flawless. She parted the crowd of hovering assistants and walked straight up to Su Jinglan.
“Does President Su have time today to inspect my work?” Shen Lanyan teased Su Jinglan with a playful smile. The director spotted Su Jinglan and immediately dropped everything to rush over with greetings, his fawning enthusiasm enough to make anyone cringe.
“President Su graces us with her presence—please, have a seat.” The studio was crowded and chaotic, so the director invited her to the quieter reception room. “Let’s head to the reception room.”
Hengsu Group was one of the investors in Shen Lanyan’s new drama, handling all the work coordination and funding through its Film and Television Division. The director had only recognized Su Jinglan as the true power behind Hengsu Group by sheer accident.
Shen Lanyan arched an eyebrow and shot Su Jinglan a subtle smile. Su Jinglan brushed off the director. “I need to speak with Miss Shen.”
“Oh, oh, of course. You two chat.” The director took the hint and beat a hasty retreat.
The moment he was gone, Shen Lanyan turned to Su Jinglan. “So, what does President Su need from me?”
“I came with Jiuwei.” Seizing the moment while Ning Jiuwei was absent, Su Jinglan used the intimate nickname. She stared at the stunning face before her—the one that had driven countless people to obsession—without hiding the scrutiny in her eyes. “Why did you ask to meet Jiuwei? Isn’t the custom design already settled?”
“Me, asking to meet your precious designer?” Shen Lanyan burst out laughing. “I didn’t schedule anything with Ning Jiuwei today. Don’t believe me? Ask Ah Xiao. She handles my itinerary.”
Ah Xiao looked utterly baffled. “Designer Ning said you wanted to meet her. She texted me when she got downstairs and asked me to come fetch her.”
An artist’s schedule wasn’t top secret, but regular folks wouldn’t know the details. Ning Jiuwei showing up here meant she was well aware of Shen Lanyan’s plans.
Su Jinglan fell silent, pondering. Shen Lanyan grew uneasy under that piercing gaze. “Where’s Designer Ning, anyway? I don’t see her.”
There was no sign of Ning Jiuwei anywhere in the studio. Shen Lanyan scanned every corner, but nothing.
Puzzled, she watched as Su Jinglan abruptly turned and strode away without a word.
“What’s going on?” Shen Lanyan hurried after her.
The corridor stretched straight in both directions. Su Jinglan glanced from one end to the other—no sign of Ning Jiuwei.
Su Jinglan felt tricked into coming here, then ditched, a dull ache settling in her chest.
“Jinglan, are you… okay?” Shen Lanyan drew close and loosely draped an arm around Su Jinglan’s shoulder, her concern plain as day.
Su Jinglan gave a slight shake of her head.
The moment Ning Jiuwei stepped out of the elevator, she spotted the two women in the corridor, locked in what looked like an intimate embrace. She froze, then spun around and jabbed the elevator button.
The doors to the elevator on this floor slid open almost immediately. Ning Jiuwei stepped inside, but just as they began to close, a hand shot out. The sensor kicked in, and the doors parted slowly once more.
“Jiuwei.” Su Jinglan had seen Ning Jiuwei’s reaction crystal clear and couldn’t say whether relief or worry over the misunderstanding filled her heart. Her racing pulse spurred her onward without a second thought.
Ning Jiuwei clenched her fist, then handed the black document folder to Su Jinglan. “Could President Su please pass this contract to Miss Shen for her signature? Three copies total—one for Miss Shen to keep.”
She had gone downstairs to retrieve the contract after Assistant Tan’s call, only to return and catch Su Jinglan and Shen Lanyan in that embrace.
Su Jinglan knew Ning Jiuwei had gotten the wrong idea. She took the folder and seized Ning Jiuwei’s hand in one smooth motion, pulling her out of the elevator.
“Designer Sister, President Su looked a little down just now, so I was comforting her.” Shen Lanyan switched back to the formal title with a playful, radiant smile, teasing Ning Jiuwei. “Don’t get the wrong idea about me, Designer Ning.”
Ning Jiuwei glanced at Su Jinglan.
Down about what?
There wasn’t a hint of sadness on Su Jinglan’s face. She smiled warmly, refusing to release Ning Jiuwei’s hand. “This is the custom contract. Miss Shen, could you sign it somewhere?”
“There’s a conference room right over there. Let’s go.” Shen Lanyan led the way.
The conference room stood empty. Shen Lanyan pulled out a chair and sat without ceremony, treating everyone as equals. “Ah Xiao, pen.”
Ah Xiao fished one out of her pocket. Assistants always carried spares.
The three copies already bore the company’s official seal and Ning Jiuwei’s signature. Shen Lanyan skimmed the design fees and production timeline—everything matched the previous version exactly. She signed her name with brisk efficiency.
Leaving behind a contract, Shen Lanyan asked Su Jinglan, “President Su, may I have a word alone with Designer Ning?”
Su Jinglan and Ah Xiao left the conference room together and waited just outside the door.
A few words didn’t take long, so they hadn’t been waiting more than a moment when Shen Lanyan and Ning Jiuwei emerged.
Shen Lanyan had another commitment to attend to next and no time to see them off herself. She had Ah Xiao escort them downstairs while she only walked them as far as the elevator area.
“What did you two discuss in the conference room?” The room’s soundproofing was excellent, and Shen Lanyan had kept her voice down, so nothing could be heard from outside.
Ning Jiuwei placed the documents on the back seat. “Nothing much.”
Su Jinglan paused for a moment before speaking in a warm tone, “Back then, Lanyan just rested her hand on my shoulder while she talked to me. It wasn’t…”
“I know.” Ning Jiuwei cut her off, her eyes brimming with a gentle smile. “Miss Shen explained everything to me.”
So that was what their private conversation had been about—clearing up that little misunderstanding.
Su Jinglan gripped the handle of her suitcase. As Ning Jiuwei turned to fasten her seatbelt, a faint smile curved her lips. She leaned back against the seat. “Designer Ning, should we head back to the company or go home?”
Of the two options, the first was the obvious choice. Ning Jiuwei answered without thinking, “Back to the company.”
“Let’s go home instead.” Su Jinglan decided. “There’s something that’s better handled at home.”
~~~
